Suffolk Reporter

A study published in The Lancet reveals a significant link between multiple Covid-19 infections and the development of Long Covid. Researchers at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine, alongside the Stony Brook World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, found that 85% of patients with post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC) had experienced multiple infections over four years.

The research highlights that vaccination before infection reduces the risk of developing Long Covid. Lead author Sean Clouston, PhD, emphasized the statistically significant association between repeated infections and increased risk for PASC after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables.

The study involved more than 2,500 first responders monitored by the Stony Brook WTC Health and Wellness Program. Of these, 475 were identified with Long Covid symptoms such as fatigue and neurological issues. Symptoms were tracked separately from other conditions linked to environmental exposures.

Using World Health Organization guidelines, researchers classified participants with Long Covid based on persistent symptoms emerging within three months post-infection. Dr. Benjamin Luft noted that while some pathogenic mechanisms are known, the full spectrum of risk factors remains unclear.

The study underscores prevention as key to avoiding Long Covid but also stresses vaccination's role in mitigating risk. The authors stated that unvaccinated individuals faced higher risks of developing PASC upon infection.

Research funding came from several grants provided by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).